Wet-pipe alarm-valve.



Nb. 876.869. PATBNTED JAN.14, 1908.

c. B. GARRETT.

WET PIPE ALARM VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 11.10. 31. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHBT 1.

PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

0.3. GARRETT. WET PIPE ALARMVALVE.

PPLIOA I N I A T 0 FILED DEG 31 1904 2 SHEBTs SHEET NITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

CHARLES B. GARRETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AN D. MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE GLOBE AUTOMATIc SPRINKLER COMPANY, "OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A OORPORATION OF MINNESOTA. v

WET-PIPE ALARM-VALVE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan 14, 1908.

Application filed December 31. 1904- Serial No. 239065.

following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to what is generally known as-wet pipe alarm valves,

which valves are used in connection with wet pipe fire extinguishing systems, for causmg an alarm to be given whenever one or more sprinklers are opened, and has for its object to generally improve this class of mechanism.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The requirements of the fire underwriters make necessary the use, in these alarm valve mechanisms, of two independent alarm attachments or devices, the one to be electrically actuated, and the other to be actuated by a water rotary.

In alarm valves hitherto constructed it has been customary to actuate one or both of the alarm attachments by water supplied through a supplemental passage leading from the main valve casing, and to control this single supplemental passage and the main inlet to the valve casing,'by a common check valve. In one device, also, the water rotary has been actuated by water supplied froma conduit leading from the main supply conduit, from a point below the check valve, and provided with a normally closed differential check valve arranged to be opened by water supplied through 'a restricted supplemental passage having a normally closed valve arranged, in turn, to be opened by the main check valve.

In my improved alarm valve mechanism, I provide two supplemental fluid passages designated as primary and secondary supplemental passages which lead from the valve casing, and are both controlled by the check valve which also controls the water inlet to said casing, and I provide an accumulation chamber which receives from the secondary of said supplemental passages, and drains into the primary supplemental passage. The said primary supplemental passage has a normally opened drain, and, where the water rotary isem ployed, has a by-pass leading to said water rotary. In said primary supplemental passage is a check valve Wl'LlClLlS closed, or is held closed when there is water pressure in said primary passage, thereby at such times closing the drain passage between said ac cumulation chamber and said primarypassage. For closing the drain from said primary passage, a valve is provided which is normally held open, preferably by weight, and is preferably attached to a diaphragm exposed in a diaphragm chamber having communication with the accumulation chamber, and into which water will be forced only after there has been a predetermined. accumulation of water in said accumulation chamber.

The main check valve in the valve casing of the main water conduit is preferably of the flapper type. The seat for said check valve should be reduced to the smallest possible area, in order to eliminate the differ ntial established by all check valves, this diflerential of course, being measured by the pressure on the area of the valve seat, plus the weight of the. valve. Areduction of this differential to a minimum, minimizes the disturbance of the check valve caused by water hammer which, in some types of valves, causes a prolonged opening of the check valve. This prolonged opening frequently causes false alarms by allowing suflicient Wa-.

ter toflow into the alarm actuating mechanism to throw the same into action. more likely to occur in systems carried to the height of four or more stories than it is in a one story system, for the obvious reason that with a high column of water, the differential on the check valve is much greater than with a low column.

In the preferred arrangement of my improved alarm valve, what I term the primary of the supplemental outlet passages opens directly from the main seat of the check valve, and the water escaping through it, when the check valve is opened, has'two functions, to-wit, first to close, or to hold closed, the check valve which controls the drain from the accumulation chamber into said primary passage, and, second, to supply This is a suificient' flow, of tam-w actuate the wa- -te'r rotary [or mechanical a arm: The first vfunction is maintained in case .of a prolonged flow, such as caused b the openingpf one or more sprinklers, at w ich time water also flows through the secondary outlet assage into the accumulation chamber.- he second function ismaintained when, by a prolonged flow, the accumulation chamber as been filled entirely, or to a predetermined extent, and the accumulated water has been caused to act on the, diaphragm and close the drain of the primary outlet, thereby causing the water which flows throu h said primary'outlet passage to actuate t e water rotary.

To-actuate the electrical alarm, the accumulation chamber is provided with an escape passage through whicht'he Water will flow I only after .the accumulation chamber has .been completely filled, or filled to a prede-.

terminedextent.

The invention also involves various other novel and important features, as. will more I fully appear from the following detail dc s'cri tion'. 1

v y im roved valve mechanism is illustrated in t e accom anying drawings, wherein like charactes in icate llke parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a viw'in vertical section, somex parts being shown in'full elevation, and some parts being indicated. in diagramzonly Fi 2 is a section on the linex xiof Fig. 1 ,.loo'

ing upward; Fig'. 3 as detail and horizontal section on the'line x at of Fig. 1 'Fig'.'?4v is a section on-the line in x of' Fig. 1,.someparts being broken away; and Fig. 5 is a'detail in elevation, showing a spring which is'.intery 0 the main check 40. posed between the be valve and a supplemental valve p ate.

The numeral 1 indicates a valve-casing which isinterposed in the main water conduit or riser 2 of a fire extinguishing systern, and is provided at its inlet withan annular valve seat/3, the face of whichinclines with respect to a horizontal, an'dwhich is normally closed by a chck valve'ifofuthe flapper, type, said valve bein -{as shown,

is pivoted at 6 within the casing. s

The primary supplementaloutlet passage connected to the free end of an arm- 5; which is afforded by a pipe 7 which, at its receiving end, communicates with a port 8 that is nor-i mally closedby the body of the check .valve 4. This primary pi e or passage '7-. is1 ro.--

vided wit a norinal y openeddrain 9 w 'ch is shown as formed in a tubular aectionlO ink k terposed in said pipe, and formed-also With a by pass 11- through which. the water; is, caused to run when the said drain 9 is closed;

As shown, the drain 9 base pluralityof er fqrations 9" that open directlyinto the y pass 11. a

' The numeral indicates with gold or 0t pear in the secondary outlet tube 16 is -made longitudi- .n.all adjustable, so as to vary its projection in t ecase 1; and, as -shown,'this is acco1n-.

andprojects through a at I .on; and the said accum b'owlof a pipe for carrying as watenflrained from the alarm mec anism.

The numeral13 indicates a val'venmunted with a vertically projec'tingstem 14, and adapted wheirpressed down, to close the drain 9,but normally held upward by means hereinafter'described?" The numeral 15 indicateafiiagrammatic: ally, a water rotary" which receives the waterdischarged from. the primary. pipe 7 when its drain 9 is closed and the check valve 4 is open.

,The secondary supplemental outlet assage is aiiorded by a pipe 6'!- tube 16 w 'ich ex 17 and is provided at its inner end with check valve 4'is in'a'closed position, that is,

closes the inlet 3 and thej'port 8, the" spring 2 1 will tightly press the valve plate 19 against .the end of the tip 18 and close the secondary outlet 16. The tip is preferably of loss,

and ther-va'lve late 19 is'advisably p-ated libimetal which will prevent corrosion. j I For an imfortantpurpose, which '11 alpescription of the operation, -t e plished by a threaded bolt 22'which connects a flange 23 on said tube to one member of thestufling box 17 and is ;.provided with'lock p ma; v j The numerals 25 and 26.indieatenormally open stopeocks interposed primary lpe 7 ,and inthe secondary;pipe'or1.tube 16; he':delivery end of the sepondary tubeplfi delivers. into an --accumulati-on -chamben 27,

base is connected with "the intermediate 1 or: tion ofthe pipe 7"through a' s an drainingwtube 28 the lower end ofwhich is normallyrclose'dlby a, check valve-129' mou'nted withinya-= valve casing 39 interposedgin said in an upper web of the section 10, provided projects into the casing l through a stuffing- -a detachable tubular tip 18, which is slightly v v. I box-27? theretionchamber at-its f fio actuate the electrical alarmftheuae-fp cumulation chamber27 is provided-with outlet passage at its-'upperqiortion, shown as afiorded by a tube or pipe 31 which leads I r to ;the' circuitmloscr 32 of th'e: electrical alarm. The circuit closer 32 maybe'ofth' standard, or"an.y suitable, which s water pressure. the pi e 31.

arranged to be closed or' to throw the elec- In t e preferred arrangement of the means for actuating the drain valve 13, its stem 14 is provided, at its upper end, with a disk-like head 33, upon which rests the intermediate gprtion of 'a'buckskin diaphragm 34, which 'aphragm is clam ed between a supporting bracket 35 on the c iamber 27 and a concave head 36, which affords a diaphragm chamber containing a body of mercury 37. The body ofmercury. 37 completely covers the diaphragm 34 and prevents the same from commg into contact with the water which may be delivered into the diaphragm chamber.- Buckskin, as is well known, is im ervious to mercury. The principal reason or the employment of the mercury is the fact that the diaphragm chamber cannot be readily drained, and that water would saturate and soon rot the buckskin diaphragm. The buckskin diaphragm is advisably employed because of its extreme sensitiveness. The diaphragm chamber afforded by the head 36 is lncommunication with the upper portion of the accumulation chamber 27, as shown, through a vertical'tube 38 and a horizontal tube 39, the latter of which taps the tube 31.

The drain valve ,13 is normally held open a ainst the weight of the mercury on the diaphragm 34, as shown, by a weight 40 suspended from a lever 41 pivoted at its intermediate portion to a depending lug 42 of the bracket 35, and having a pronged end -engaging studs 43 on the valve stem 14. The numeral 44 indicates a normally closed outlet from the casing 1 which is of such size that when opened, by a valve or other de-- vice, it will permit'a discharge equal to the discharge of one sprinkler head.

In adjusting the device, the test outlet 44 is opened and a flow will be established equivalent to the discharge of the primary outlet, the secondary outlet and one sprinkler head, and if an alarm is not thereby created, the tube 16, which. affords the secondary outlet,

is adjusted longitudinally until its tip 18 is carried far enough away from the valve plate Y 19 of the then open check valve 4 to attain that. result, to-wit, the actuation ofthe alarm mechanism. It is of course evident that the greater the distance of the valve plate 19 cm the tip 18 when the check valve is opened slightly by the opening of one sprinkler head or of the test opening 44, the greater will be the flow through the secondary supplemental passage, and hence the more ra id will be the filling of the accumulation c amber 27.

As clearly already described, the longitudinal adjustment ofthe tube 1.6 may be easily accomplished, and this without access to the in'tenor'of the valve casing. -ThJS novel method of adjustment is therefore a very important feature.

Many alarm valves fail to operate when one sprinkler head is opened, due to manipulation by employees who have been annoyed by ,Water hammer alarms. 'It is practically impossible With my improved -:alarm valve mechanism for any water hammer 'to cause false alarms. Slight disturbances to the check valve 4 may cause the discharge from the primary outlet, but such discharges will findfreeescape through the normally open drain 9, and hence the said primary passage will be quickly drained with no other efi'ect on the alarm controlling mechanism except to hold the check valve 29 securely closed. v

A greater disturbance of the main check valve 4 may cause .the .opening of the secondary outlet through the tube 16,- but unless; the said check valve 4 is held 0 en until the accumulation chamber is fille the return of the check valve to its seat will cut off'the flow of water boththrough the primary and secondary passages, and will permit the said accumulation chamber to be drained without having actuated the alarm devices. After the accumulation-chamber has been partly filled, as above indicated, the primary passage will be drained before the drain check valve" 29 is permitted to open. The ,primary passage through the pipe 7 .must be given time to drain,,and when this is done,

the water pressure on. the under surface of said check valve 29 being removed, said check valve will open and permit the water to freel run from the accumulation chamher. 4 is held open for any considerable time, as will be the case, of course, when a sprinkler head is thrown into action, the accumulation "chamber 27 will be completely filled, and the water running therefrom through the tube 31 will actuate the'circuit'closer 32'of the electric alarm, and will flow through the pipes 31 and 38, intpthe diaphragm chamber 36, thereby producing a pressure on the diaphragm 34, which, in conjunction'with the mercury 37-, will force the same downward and move the drain valve-downward into a.

position to close. the drain 9 of the primapassage. 'When' the drain 9 is thus-close all the water which flows throu h the primary passage, and through thei '9' thereof, must of necessity pass t ough, or be delivered to, the water rotary 15 of latter. l

for draining it, but'when the accumulation chamber has been drained, the weight 40' yassage,

en, however, the main check valve the mechanical alarm, thereby actuatingthe will overcome the weight of the mercury'and of the water which remains in the chamber 36 and pipe 38,-and will'restore the drain valve 13 to its normal position and open the drain 9. The draining of the primary and secondary passages, and of the accumulation chamber, after the alarm mechanism has been thrown into action, as above described, is, as shown, accomplished by opening a drip cook 45 which is applied to'the by-passage 9.,and discharges into the catch'bowl 12.

' Theyalve mechanism above described ,is

capable of a great many modifications and different arrangements within the see c of my invention asherein set forth and claimed.

Th e drip check valve 29, for, instance, may take a great many different forms, and;,f 0r some purposes/it might even be dispensed with. If the said check valve were dispensed'with, the relative conductive passage of the drain tube 28, or other passage corresponding thereto, WOuldof necessitygbe made less than that of the secondary passage between the valve casing 1 and the accumulation chamber, so that it would be possible to fill the latter while the said drain was open. I

The arrangement described is especially adapted to actuate two different and distinct alarms. Nevertheless, most of the mechanism described would be necessary in order to actuate a single alarm. ample, the mechanically actuated alarm should not be desired, the primary passagethrough the ipe 7 should be plugged out ward of the rain 9. If, on the other hand, the electrically actuated alarm should not be required, the tube 31 should be plugged upward of the branch pipe 39.

The spring 21 interposed between the valve plate 19 and the valve 4, holds said valveplate against the tip 18, and hence assists in keeping the secondary supplemental 'passage 16 closed under slight openings of said check valve.

Thedrain check valve 29, as illustrated in the drawings, is normally pressed closed by a, light spring, the tension of which is only sufficient to overcome the weight of the valve and normally hold the same closed, so that it 'cannot become clo ed by'sediment or dirt.

The main drain check or valve 13 may also take a great many different forms, and may be actuated in a great many different ways. Vlhat I claim and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, two supplemental fluid passages leading from said :casing, a

check valve within Tsaid casing-directly controlling the inlet thereto and said two supplemental fluid passages, and means cooperating with said supplemental passages to cause an alarm, substantially as described.

2. in an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, two supplemental fiuid passages leading from said easing, a

'ary sup lemental outlet If, for 6X-' -passage, substantially as described.

check valve-within said casing directly controlling, the inlet thereto, and said two supplemental fluid passages, li uid actuated means cooperating with sai supplemental passages, to; cause an alarm when said check 3 valve opens a predetermined amount for a predetermined time, substantially as de-.

scribed.

3. In an alarm valve,- a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary'and secondassages leadlng fromsalt casin a check va ve in said casing controlling the Inlet thereto and the said two' supplemental passages, an I accumulation chamber receivmg from said secondary passage and discharging into said primary passage, and means actuated. bya predetermined accumulation of water in said accustantially as described.

- 4. In an alarm' valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary and secondary sup lemental outlet passages leading from sal casing,said primarypassage havinga normally open drain, and an accumulation dependent outlet eading from said primary supplemental passa e to said alarm device, an. accumulation c amber receiving from said secondary passage and draini ,into said primary passage, and a valve for c osing the drain of said primary passa e, itself arra ed to be moved to close sai drain, by a pre etermined accumulation of watcrin said.

accumulation chamber, substantially as described. 1

6. In an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary and secondary outlet passages leading from said casing, a check valve in said casing controlling the inlet thereto and said two supplemental passages, an accumulation chamber receiving from said secondary passage and discharging into said primary passage, a check valve arranged to close the passage between said accumulation chamber and primary passage, a normallv open drain in said primary passage, a valve for closing said drain, means actuated by a predetermined accumulation ,of water in said accumulation cham her, for moving said valve to close said jmulation chamber, to cause an alarm, sub

ary supplemental outlet passages leading from said casing, an accumulation chamber receiving from said secondary passage and discharging into said primary passage, a valve closing communication between said accumulation chamber and primary passage under pressure from within said primary passage, a normally open drain leading from sald primary passage, a valve for closing said normally open drain, a diaphragm connected to said dram valve and in communication with said accumulation chamber through a passage arranged to deliver water thereto only after a predeterm ned accumulation has taken place in said chamber, and means 00- operating with said supplemental passages and parts noted, to cause an alarm, substantially as described.

,. 8, Inan alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary and second-t ary supplemental outlet passages leading from said casing, said primary passage having'a normally open drain, an accumulation chamber receiving from said secondary passage and draining-into said primary passa e, a'normally open drain valve for closing t e drain of'said primary passage, a diaphragm chamber in communication with said accumulation chamber at its upper portion, a

diaphragm exposed in said diaphragm chamber andconnected to said drain-valve, for. closing the same, and a body of mercury in said diaphragm chamber covering said diaphragm and holding the water out of contact therewith, substantially as described.

9: In'an alarm valve, a casing formin art of a water conduit, two supplemental ui'd passages leading from said casing, the one being afforded by a longitudinally adjustable tube, a checkvalve within said casing controlling the inlet thereto, and said two-supplemental fluid passages, and means cooperating with said supplemental passages to causefan alarm, substantially as described. 10. In an alarm valve, a casing forming a part of a Water conduit, primary and second ary supplemental outlet passages leading from said casing, said secondary supplemen tal pass'a e-being formed of a longitudinally adjustab e tube, acheck valve within said casing controlling the inlet thereto, and the said two supplemental passages, an accumulation chamber receiving from said secondary passage and draining into said primary passa e, and means actuated by a predetermine accumulationof water in said accu mnlation chamber to cause an alarm, substantially as described.

valve seat surrounding its inlet passage, a primary supplemental passage leading from said check valve seat, a secondary supplemental passage leading from one side of said casing, a check valve in said casing the body of which normally closes the inlet to said casing and the said primary supplemental passage, said check valve having a yielding valve plate or section that normally closes said secondary supplemental passage, and means cooperating with said supplemental passages to cause an alarm, substantially as described.

12. In an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary and second ary supplemental passages leading from said casing, the former having a normally open drain, and the latter having" a detachable tubular tip within said casing, a check valve i described.

13. The combination with an alarm valve and an alarm actuating device, of a casingforming part of a water conduit, ,two supplemental fluid passages leading from said casing, the one thereof having a normally open drain and a by-pass leading to an alarm actuating device, a normally open drain valve for closing said drain, and means actuated by the flow through said secondary su plemental passage to move said drain val ve, close said drain and cause the water to flow through said by-pass and actuate the alarm mechanism, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an alarm valve and an alarm actuating device, of a casing forming a art of a water conduit, primary and secon ary supplemental passages leading from said casing, the former having a normally open drain, and the latter being connected to an alarmactuating device and having a drain controlled by the flow through said primary passage, a normally 0' en drain valve cooperating'with the drain 0 said primary passage, and means controlled by the flow through said secondary passage for moving said drain valve to close the drain of said primary passage and cause the flow through said secondary passage to produce an alarm, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an alarm valve and an alarm actuating device, of a casing forming part of a water conduit, primary and I chamber receiving fromsaid secondary passage and draining into said primary passage,

I I said primary passage having a normally open drain and a by-p'a's'sleading to an alarm actuating device, a second alarm actuating de-' vice connected by a. passage with the upper portion of said accumulation chamber, a diaphragm chamber and cooperating diaphragm connected by a passage to the upper portion of said accumulation chamber, 'a drain valve cooperating with the drain of said primary passage and connected to said diaphragm, and a'weight acting on said valve. an

diaphragm to normally hold said valve open, substantially as described.

16. In an alarm valve, a casing forming a part of a water conduit, a supplemental passage leading from said casing, a check valve in said casing controlling the inlet thereto and said supplemental passage, and means extending to the exterior of said casing for changing the adjustment of the inner e-xtremity of said su plemental passage with respect to said va ve, substantially as described.

17. In an alarm valve, a casing forming a part of a water conduit, a supplemental pas-.

18. In an alarm valve, the combination of an alarm mechanism, of a casing forming part of a water conduit, three valve seats in said causing, a valve arranged to open and closefon two of said valve seats,'means inco orated in. said valve for'o eningand closing the third valve seat, and means-for actuating said alarm mechanismwhen one of said valve seats is opened substantially as described.

19. In an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, three 'I'nain valve seats in said casing,; a valve arranged to open and close on two of said valve seats, and a supplemental valve yieldingly connected to .said main valve for opening and closing the third-valve seat, substantially as described.

20. In an alarm valve, a casing forming part of a water conduit, three valve seats within said casing, one of which seats is obliquely disposed with respect to the other two, a main valve arranged to open and close on two of said valve seats, and "a supplemental valve yieldingly connected to said main valve for openin and closing the third valve seat, substantial y as described.

In testimony whereof I aflrx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES B. GARRETT. Witnesses:

ROBERT C. MATEY, F. D. MERCHANT. 

